NSN Cycling Team strengthens its roster with a rider of great potential like Lennert Van Eetvelt: the Belgian has signed a three-year contract from 2027 through 2029 and will take on a leadership role in the Swiss-licensed team. The former winner of the UAE Tour and Tour of Guangxi 2024 is leaving Lotto Intermarchés after seven years, seeking to return to the top and put behind him the numerous injuries and crashes that have marked the last two years. NSN's general manager, Kjell Carlström, accompanied the announcement by stating: "Lennert Van Eetvelt is a rider we have been closely following for years and we are very pleased to welcome him to the team. He has already proven he can win at WorldTour level, especially in demanding stage races, and we believe he can continue to grow with us in the coming seasons".

Leader role at NSN Cycling Team

Van Eetvelt thus joins NSN for the next three seasons seeking to leverage his undoubted potential both in the mountains and in reduced bunch finishes, qualities that illuminated the 2024 season (his best to date), but which have been overshadowed by crashes and various injuries over the past two years. "What stands out is not only his climbing ability, but also his way of racing. He is ready to seize opportunities when they present themselves and has proven he can close out races even against strong opponents. Whether it's aiming for the general classification in stage races, the Ardennes classics, or proving his worth in the mountains during the Grand Tours, we are excited to see what Lennert can do in NSN colors", Carlström also stated.

✍️ Bolstering our GC ambitions with Belgian @LennertVEetvelt!

The UAE Tour and Tour of Guangxi winner joins us on a three-year contract through to 2029 👏#WeAreNSN #ForFin I @weare_nsn pic.twitter.com/nR4gKLchPe

— NSN Cycling Team (@NSNCyclingTeam) September 3, 2026

For his part, the rider stated: "I was looking for an international and professional environment to take the next step in my career. NSN seemed like the perfect choice, so I can't wait to join the team and see what we can do together over the next three years. I want to win more races, whatever they may be. I know my abilities and I want to build the most solid palmares possible, so I hope to start strong in 2027. I am confident I made the right choice and together we will win races".

Lotto's farewell

Just minutes before NSN's announcement came the farewell from Lotto Intermarchés, which published a post on social media channels accompanied by a video that pays tribute to Van Eetvelt, recalling the seven years together with the Belgian, who arrived as a young rider in the team's U23 squad and then blossomed with prestigious WorldTour victories: "in moments of success and in difficult ones, we lived every step of your journey to success with unwavering trust in your potential".

Thank you, Lennert Van Eetvelt 🫶

The young man who joined @lottowanty in 2020 became a winner. A multiple WorldTour stage race winner.

The highs, the lows, we lived every step of your road to success with unwavering trust in your potential.

As we say goodbye after 7 years, we… pic.twitter.com/9xMiLkSWV4

— Lotto-Intermarchés (@LottoIntermarch) September 3, 2026

Just as in 2025, this year too Van Eetvelt has not yet achieved victories, but finished sixth in the UAE Tour general classification and especially second in the Arctic Race of Norway, seeing some light after the tunnel of so many injuries over the past 24 months including foot fractures as in 2025, hand fractures as at last year's Giro d'Italia, and rib fractures as at the Tour de France.